Each day within the topics I post a verse of Scripture which is relevant to either:

• The glorification of the Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16);

• The salvation message to the lost (Romans 3:23);

• The edification of other believers (1 Thessalonians 5:11), or

• The nourishment of the Church (Acts 20:28).

I’ve received many questions over the years, both within these topics and by email, wanting to know more about Jesus and salvation. Occasionally a scoffer would rear their head, mocking and ridiculing the need for a Savior or simply attempting to detract from the Gospel message. Those were usually few and far between, and each board’s Administrator would promptly put these members in their place or ban them outright from posting further. But there’s been a change recently in how my topic of salvation has been received, and from a source you’d think would be the last to refuse my effort to post it.

When the topic first appeared it was on only a half-dozen or so boards. Very well received at that time by the online Christian community offers began to come in for me to join other boards and offer it there as well. The Lord also continued leading me to message boards in which to post it. At one point only a few years ago "If You’re New Here Please Read" appeared on over sixty message boards at one time! But then, without any warning, things began to change.

So-called ‘Christian’ message boards, some new, others which I had belonged to for years, suddenly began showing disdain for the message the topic was conveying. Excuses were given to prohibit it on new boards or stop it on existing boards. These excuses ranged from ‘the topic is too exclusive’, to ‘the Administrators take care of salvation topics/discussions themselves and don’t need your topic’. And, this is my favorite excuse, ‘everyone on our board is saved’. Needless to say, the number of message boards on which the topic appeared began to decrease and now stands at a mere twenty-five, and that includes Divine Intervention’s own Forum.

As of today I’ve either had to leave or have been banned from forty-four message boards around the Internet, or in other words, I’m now a member of not quite half as many boards as I once was. Now it’s only fair for me to say, some of these boards had problems other than my topic. A few closed down for lack of participation. One was posting pornography on a hidden board within the site. After railing to the Administrator, who was himself participating in the indecency on the hidden board, I left there very quickly. And two other boards suddenly made their members begin paying for the privilege of posting on their site. The Gospel’s free, so I guess the only way they thought they could make any money was to charge to discuss it.

Why was everything fine when I started these topics a few years ago, then to have them viewed so distastefully in so short a time? Very simple:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" (2 Timothy 4:3)

Even though Jesus told us when the Kingdom of God would be near (Matthew 24:33) people don’t want to hear that it’s approaching and they need to repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). People don’t want to hear that Jesus is the only way to salvation, even though He told us Himself (John 14:6). They’re content in their sin that tells them there are many paths to God, even though there’s no other Name than Jesus’ that will save them (Acts 4:12). People don’t want to hear that if they believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead and they confess Him as Lord with their mouth they’ll be saved (Romans 10:9). They’re content in their sin that tells them they don’t have to confess Him as Lord, even though if they don’t He will deny them before the Father in Heaven (Matthew 10:32-33). They’re content to continue in their sin, believing false doctrines offered by devils and false prophets (1 Timothy 4:1 and Matthew 24:11) who will, along with them, perish in everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41).

I will continue to offer the "If You’re New Here Please Read" topic anywhere that will allow me to post it. Regardless of how its content is received, I proudly proclaim my relationship to my Lord and will offer His message to whosoever will hear it:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, please go to Divine Intervention’s page The Truth. Read why you need Him and how you can receive the free gift of eternal life only He offers.

Keith

08-06-2008